How to make time when you have none

One of my biggest bug-bears of all time is being told that if I really want something then I’ll prioritise it, I’ll make time.

“Time is a created thing. To say ‘I don’t have time’ is like saying ‘I don’t want to.”

Hmm…clearly not a mother.

The bottom line is, we’ve already compromised so much to do even the bare essentials to keep our kids alive and well. Sleep is a foreign concept to us. Our coffee is often consumed cold. And we are the masters of multi-tasking.

So to simply tell us that we’re not prioritising what’s important grates us to the bone. Because the point is we do prioritise and we know all too well how precious time really is. The fact is there are only 24 hours in a day and we’re already using 28 of them!

As I said, I’m a mama of 3. And I don’t have time to fit in all the things I’d like to in a single day.

Of course the things that have to happen happen ~ the kids are fed, clothed, changed, bathed, stimulated, calmed, mediated, cuddled, guided, praised, reprimanded, educated and loved. When all is done there’s not much time or energy left for sleep, selfcare, exercise, stimulation, maintenance or “adulting” of any sort. This is #mumlife.

So, when it comes to “making time” only two things work for mums (unless of course you have a live-in nanny)…

Minimising & Multi-Tasking.

And this is what I love about yoga.

You don’t have to fit a mould and it’s not time specific. It’s adaptable and achievable for all. And the benefits are amazing.

Minimising for mums

For mums it’s all about time and we just don’t have an hour each day to dedicate to a regular practice. Whilst it’s true that the more you practice something the better the experience, research says that even small amounts of yoga practiced regularly can have immeasurable benefits.

Imagine the benefit for a fatigued and stressed mum if just a few minutes of meditation could have this affect.

Physically, yoga has been shown to improve flexibility, posture, and balance; strengthen bones; and increase muscle strength. And whilst there are plenty of overall health perks, research also shows that yoga can decrease inflammation, boost immune system function, and improve symptoms associated with a range of chronic health conditions. The practice can also do wonders for your mental health and mood, reducing depression, stress, and anxiety.

Is anyone else getting that fuzzy feeling right about now?!

Ok, so you probably trust that the benefits are legit, but can a few minutes a day really make a difference? The proof is in the pudding. Mamas, try it out for yourself. We’ve got a bunch of mini bursts of yoga & meditation practices (ranging from 2-5 minutes in length) to get you started – TRY THEM NOW!

So, that’s “minimising” but what if your kids literally do not give you a second to yourself?

Multi-tasking for mums

Don’t wait for the perfect opportunity, even a solo five minutes because it might never come. I don’t know how many days have passed while I’ve promised myself “I’ll do that when I get a moment.” And guess what, Murphy’s law, you’ll never get that moment.

So, seize the day and make it work for you!

If the kids won’t give you a moment alone, then involve them too. Realistically my yoga practice now mostly involves my kids. It’s not the same as my pre-kid practice, but then nothing in life is the same. You can choose to either force or flow.

The point is, you can’t fit your whole life into nap times so you need to get creative. Take the short regular yoga practices and work them in, around and with your kids.

Here are a few ideas:

When the kids wake you up extra early, roll out the mat and play with the rising sun (according to traditionalists the best hours to practice yoga are between 4-7am anyway! 😳)

Use feeding sessions as an opportunity to engage in meditation, you might even find the calming practices are soothing for your babe as well.

Try a walking meditation next time you take a pram trip to the park. This is such a grounding activity and gets you and the kids out into nature.

Whatever actions you do throughout the day – changing a nappy, folding clothes, driving the car, cooking dinner – engage with a sense of absolute awareness. Notice every, smell, sound and feel. Continue the action with complete mindfulness and notice your breath.

The great thing about yoga is the vast range of practices, which are easily adaptable to your ever changing needs – be it your energy levels, time restrictions, physical limitations, experience or required benefits.

You don’t have to be flexible, fit, spiritual, of a particular body type or level of knowledge. You just have to be open minded. But hey, hasn’t mamahood called for that anyway?!

If you’re not sure where to start or how to carve out those few moments then we’re here to help. We have a great program to give you ideas on how to create mini bursts of selfcare for you, with and without your kids.

Our Mama Me Time Toolkit is specifically designed to cater to the needs of busy, time poor, life juggling mamas. It will introduce you to the wide world of yoga in bite size portions so that they’re actually achievable for real mums. Intrigued? DIVE IN NOW!